Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Position Overview:

The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations serves as Merrimack College's primary fundraiser and liaison for local, regional, and national foundations and corporate partners. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Research and Knowledge Enterprise, the Director leads the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of institutional funders to advance key campus priorities.

This role operates in close collaboration with executive leadership, the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Marketing & CMO, Academic Deans, faculty researchers, the O'Brien Center for Career Development, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to translate institutional initiatives into competitive funding proposals.

Primary Responsibilities:

Portfolio Management & Fundraising (50%)

• Manage an active portfolio of 60 - 80 corporate and foundation prospects with the capacity to make commitments in the $25,000 to $1,000,000+ range.
• Develop and execute strategic cultivation and solicitation plans to secure $750,000 - $1,500,000+ annually in corporate and private foundation grants and corporate gifts.
• Conduct 40-60 meaningful interactions or site visits annually with foundation program officers, corporate foundation directors, and executive leadership.
• Author, edit, and submit persuasive Letters of Inquiry, highly tailored grant proposals, pitch decks, and formal stewardship reports.

Cross-Campus Collaboration & Academic Engagement (25%)

• Partner with Deans and faculty across Girard School of Business, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Computational Sciences, School of Education and Social Policy, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work.
• Collaborate with the O'Brien Center for Career Development to integrate corporate philanthropic support with student internships, co-ops, and executive sponsorships.
• Work seamlessly with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to delineate philanthropic grants from government sponsored agreements.

Executive Support & Operations (25%)

• Design and execute robust stewardship programs ensuring full compliance with grant terms, reporting schedules, and financial accountability.
• Prepare comprehensive briefing materials for the President, Senior Vice Presidents, Provost, and Academic Deans prior to funder visits.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required.
• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive institutional fundraising, grant writing, or corporate sponsorship experience, preferably within higher education or a complex non-profit environment.
• Documented success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing five- and six-figure ($50,000-$500,000+) grants and gifts from foundations and corporations.
• Superior narrative, proposal writing, and editing abilities with a proven capacity to translate complex academic concepts and research projects into clear, compelling funding proposals.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing fundraising CRMs (e.g., Salesforce, Slate) and research databases (e.g., Foundation Directory Online, LinkedIn Sales Navigator).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education, Communications, or a related field preferred.
• Direct experience working with academic Deans, faculty researchers, and university executive leadership within a higher education setting.
• Established network of philanthropic contacts and foundation program officers across Greater Boston and the broader New England region.

Key Competencies & Personal Attributes:

• Proactive self-starter capable of recognizing funding trends, identifying institutional needs, and matching them with external philanthropy.
• Ability to build consensus, foster trust, and work collaboratively across institutional stakeholders, faculty, and corporate executives.
• Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple competing proposal deadlines, reporting requirements, and funder visits simultaneously.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

Travel Requirements

This position requires regular on-campus travel, as well as occasional local and regional travel to support departmental and institutional needs.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack's Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College's suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master's Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.